Volunteers | Co-op Placements | Apprenticeships | Urjo Kareda Residency Grant For an Emerging Theatre Artist
Return to Outreach overview >Co-op Placements
For over 17 years Tarragon has hosted coop students from the secondary school level. Coop students gain a variety of skills from a Tarragon placement. Working in a professional environment expands their personal development and acquisition of solid communication skills. Students learn how a theatre functions as an artistic entity, as well as a business, and begin to formulate concrete goals about their own careers (our front of house manager first came to Tarragon 10 years ago as a coop student!). Each student is paired with a mentor on the staff whose role is to provide support, guidance, and feedback throughout the coop term.
"I think the [co-op] experience exposes young people to job settings that they otherwise would not be familiar with…. Nowhere is that more critical than in the arts, where we must continue to encourage students who show potential to further their studies."
Shelly Meichenbaum, Dramatic Arts Teacher, Cedarbrae CI, TDSB
How to Apply:
Submit a cover letter, stating which placement position you are interested in,
and resume, c/o Andrew Lamb, Director of Education and Outreach. These can be faxed, mailed,
emailed (outreach @tarragontheatre.com), or dropped off at the front desk.
We accept both full year and semestered students
Important Note:
If, after reading these outlines, you have specific questions please contact
Andrew Lamb, at 416.536.5018 x 229 or by email at
outreach @ tarragontheatre.com.
Tarragon is a fast-paced work environment - for that reason we are best suited for students who already have skills in a specific area and are looking to apply those skills in a professional environment.
Tarragon Theatre is a community environment. Our hope is to host students who will be interested in the work that the theatre produces and who will engage in the culture of the building beyond the specific parameters of the placement.
Administration co-op
This placement is not timetable specific but afternoons or full days are
preferable.
Overview:
Students will work out of the studio office at Tarragon assisting the
Outreach department, the associate artistic director, the publicist and
other administrative personnel. Opportunities will also be available to
attend read-throughs and productions, audit meetings and develop personal
projects.
Qualities:
* Self-directed, motivated, enthusiastic learners
* Active interest in theatre
* Ability to take on various administrative tasks that would include knowledge
of MS Office, faxing, photocopying, labelling, filing documents, setting
up for special events, etc (PhotoShop/Adobe Illustrator a plus but not
required)
* Strong communication skills and outgoing personality.
Front of House co-op
This placement is not timetable specific but afternoons or full days are
preferable.
Overview:
Students will work out of the front of house office assisting the front
of house managers with box office tasks, telephone inquiries, mailings,
subscriptions, student matinees, etc. Opportunities will also be available
to attend read-throughs and productions, audit meetings and develop personal
projects.
Qualities:
* Self-directed, motivated, enthusiastic learners
* Active interest in theatre (interested in learning about our organization
and acting as a host/liaison to patrons and members of the theatre community)
* Ability to take on various administrative tasks that would involve work
on computers (MS Office), reception (answering telephones on a multiline
system and greeting patrons in person), general inquiries and handling
money
* Strong oral and written communication skills, an outgoing personality,
organizational skills and a strong memory
Production co-op
This placement is open to students in 4 credit co-op programs and includes
some weekends and evenings.
Overview:
Working closely with production department heads, students will gain experience
in all areas of technical theatre including stage carpentry, costume and
prop construction, lighting and production setups and strikes. Opportunities
will be available to attend read-throughs of plays, production meetings
and technical rehearsals in the theatre.
Qualities:
* Students seriously interested in applying for admission to post-secondary
institutions offering practical training in technical theatre
* Self-directed, motivated and enthusiastic learners
* Technical experience with secondary school theatrical productions
* Good communication skills and a willingness to work as part of a team
* Students who seek exposure to actors, writers, directors, designers
and production professionals
This placement emphasizes technical production NOT performance.'
Please note: Students with strong skill levels in a specific area i.e. wardrobe, carpentry, etc. may apply for placements with a specific department.
Building Management co-op
This placement is not timetable specific but afternoons or full days are
preferable.
Overview:
This position is considered an ideal introduction to the various trades
involved in building operations. Working alongside the building manager,
students will gain experience in all areas of building management and
maintenance including, but not limited to, daily custodial responsibilities,
carpentry, gardening, special event setup, and minor plumbing and electrical
repairs. In addition, ongoing building projects, and opportunities to
work with various production departments, may arise.
Qualities:
* Students seriously interested in gaining exposure to building trades
and how they relate to building management
* Self-directed, motivated and enthusiastic learners
* Some experience with hand-tools, hardware, and building materials are
an asset
* Good communication skills and a willingness to work as part of a team
* Interpersonal skills and ability to prioritize
* Accountability is essential
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